I’m not really sure how Metamodern Sounds in Country Music landed in my lap. I’ve looked through all of my usual sources for music and it’s just…not there. So let’s just call it serendipity, much like the album.
I spend a lot of time on here ranting about authenticity (specifically when it comes to gentrification) but who the fuck am I kidding? I’m a Jewish American Princess who dodges that fate by listening to country music. This is amusing to pretty much everyone I know, so I enjoy seeing their reactions to whatever music I’m currently listening to.
My roommate, who despises country on principle, poked his head and found himself surprised by liking it. When I was setting up my classroom the other day (PS, I have my very own classroom this year which is by no means standard these days) the crunchy English teacher who surfs every morning asked what the name of this singer was.
“Sturgill Simpson.”
“I am…not at all surprised.”
One of my history colleagues heard Simpson’s cover of “The Promise” and gasped, “Oh my God. I love this song.” (I didn’t realize it was a cover and now that I’m listening to the synthpop original, I’m impressed that he was able to pick it out at all.)
Point is, this album has some serious universal appeal, and I haven’t even addressed Simpson’s trippy compositions in “Turtles All the Way Down” and “It’s Not All Flowers.” Simpson has drawn from a truly impressive array of sources to make a true country album: songs that will gently break your heart and heal your soul.